As I’m beginning to apply for “big girl” jobs, I’ve been doing a lot of research on what I should and should not include in my resume and cover letter. Almost every employer is different in what it wants, but having a basic template for your resume and cover letter is a tremendous aid when applying for jobs. It takes a lot of time and effort to refine these documents and it’s never too early to focus on revising and perfecting it. I came across an article on Yahoo! Finance that lists 10 Rules and Myths about resumes. I’ve highlighted the rules and myths I found most helpful and hope you do, too.

The first myth is that your resume should fit on one page. Many recruiters are now saying that applicants should use as much space as it takes to properly showcase your work history, publications and experience. An exception to this rule is for entry-level applicants who may not have much experience and for those looking for part-time work. This article claims that the bottom line when writing your resume is that you need to convince the employer that you’re a good fit for the position and if that means making your resume more than one page, keep writing (but be succinct).

One of the most important rules when applying for a job is to include a cover letter. This can be the most tedious/nerve wrecking part but it is also one of the most important components. A recent survey conducted on CareerBuilder.com revealed that 20 percent of hiring managers automatically threw out applications that did not include a cover letter. Cover letters allow applicants to briefly explain how their experience is well-aligned with the employers needs and to answer anything that is generally not included in your resume. When writing your cover letter, keep in mind that is important to show rather than simply tell about your experience/talent/qualifications.

Another tip is to organize your resume in reverse chronological order instead of topical order. A main benefit to organizing it in reverse chronological order is that it is easier for hiring managers to read and to see applicants’ growth and progression from where they began to where they are now.

Since you may want to make your resume look as clean and concise as possible, two additional tips suggest that you can leave off an objective and references. Usually objectives do not give additional information and are so general they become meaningless. In not including references, you not only save that space, but usually references are only contacted much later in the application process and hiring managers will let you know if they would like to contact your references.

Applying for jobs can be intimidating because your resume and cover letter are considered your first impression so it is important to make a good one. Utilize the resources around you—professors, career counselors, friends, family—to help you refine your resume and cover letter. Be sure to do your research about each company and cater your resume and cover letter to each position. After all, the better your resume and cover letter are, the more likely you are to receive the job offer you want.

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